GRACE satellites enable long-lead forecasts of mountain contributions to streamflow in the low-flow season

Liu, X., Tang, Q., Hosseini-Moghari, S.-M., Shi, X. , Lo, M.-H. and Scanlon, B. (2021) GRACE satellites enable long-lead forecasts of mountain contributions to streamflow in the low-flow season. Remote Sensing, 13(10), 1993. (doi: 10.3390/rs13101993)

Abstract

Terrestrial water storage (TWS) in high mountain areas contributes large runoff volumes to nearby lowlands during the low-flow season when streamflow is critical to downstream water supplies. The potential for TWS from GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellites to provide long-lead streamflow forecasting in adjacent lowlands during the low-flow season was assessed using the upper Yellow River as a case study. Two linear models were trained for forecasting monthly streamflow with and without TWS anomaly (TWSA) from 2002 to 2016. Results show that the model based on streamflow and TWSA is superior to the model based on streamflow alone at up to a five-month lead-time. The inclusion of TWSA reduced errors in streamflow forecasts by 25% to 50%, with 3–5-month lead-times, which represents the role of terrestrial hydrologic memory in streamflow changes during the low-flow season. This study underscores the high potential of streamflow forecasting using GRACE data with long lead-times that should improve water management in mountainous water towers and downstream areas.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Shi, Dr John Xiaogang

Creator Roles

Shi, J. X.: Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Liu, X., Tang, Q., Hosseini-Moghari, S.-M., Shi, X., Lo, M.-H., and Scanlon, B.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Remote Sensing
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2072-4292
• ISSN (Online): 2072-4292
• Published Online: 19 May 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 by the authors
• First Published: First published in Remote Sensing 13(10):1993
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence